One
She took a trembling breath as she faced herself in the mirror.
Was this the life I was meant for? She thought as she turned towards the dress she discorded on her blankets while getting ready for bed.
At least that's what everyone else thought as she put on her dressing robe.
If you had asked Sofia three years ago about her enjoyment in being a princess, she would've responded with a joyous smile.
Except now she was sick and haggard.
Sick of the overwhelming amount of stress it came with being a princess and haggard of nobody assisting her with her needs.
Surely her mother and sister did but they didn't fathom the crippling anxiety and depression wrapping around her like a snake choking its prey.
Her childhood wasted away with doing things for others had left it barely clinging by a thread.
She needed an escape right then and now.
She gazed towards her writing desk, a lavender pair of scissors sitting in a can of craft supplies she'd adorned herself long ago.
Walking over to the desk, she grabbed the scissors and began a small snip.
A lock of auburn waves fell to the floor beneath her feet, having Sofia feel something she hadn't expressed in months.
Fury.
Fury for her wasted childhood, fury for being called crazy the one time she needed an adult's help, and fury for the pain she felt raging inside her.
With a trembling hand, she snipped furiously at her hair.
What would remained afterwards she didn't care, waiting until she was surrounded by locks of auburn waves to get a suitcase from her closet and begin packing for a new life.
"Kid, what are you doing?"
Sofia had finished folding every simple dress she had in the closet and putting them along with her doll from the village in the suitcase before noticing Clover's baffled expression.
"Running away," Sofia replied.
The rabbit's ears dropped, his nose twitching sadly. "Kid, where do you plan on going?"
Sofia gulped, realizing she hadn't thought about a location yet.
"I…I don't know."
"Well I do, Sof. Wherever we end up, we're doing this together," Clover smiled, placing a paw in her trembling hand. "Like we've always done."
Sofia smiled a little, booping his nose. "Thanks Clover."
"What are blue ribbon bunnies for. Tell you what Sof, I'll get Mia and Robin while you continue to get ready."
With assistance from the local fireflies, it wasn't long before Sofia hitched a ride on Sliver, one of the horses still awake and rode into the night with her animal friends flying and hopping alongside her.
…
Peace and tranquility.
Cedric lit a fire into the cottage's fireplace using his wand as he took off his robe and placed it on the nearest coat rack.
The simple cottage had been a gift from Winifred and Goodwyn for saving Princes Sofia's life days prior.
They, specifically Goodwyn, said it was a place for him to get away from the stresses of serving the king and from days following the spiritual menace known as Vor, Cedric needed it more than ever.
With a room for himself and three guest rooms along with a kitchen, pallor, library, and bathroom, the simple cottage had a charm to it the castle never had.
Still, the sorcerer felt something was missing.
Something important.
A knock of the door surprised Cedric who sighed and shook his head.
Didn't people realize it was rude to come to a person's residence at this time of night?
His expression of annoyance softened when he saw his apprentice dirt ridden and shivering in the icy cold.
He noticed that she wasn't alone as a rabbit and two birds made their way ahead of her.
Slowly, Cedric knelt down beside her, careful not to startle her as he took her hand.
"Sofia, what are you doing out here?" The sorcerer wondered, squeezing her hand gently. "And mostly importantly, how did you get here?"
Sofia gazed at him, a tear, running down her dirt ridden cheek.
"I ran away, Mr. Cedric. I couldn't do it anymore and ran away from the castle. Please don't be mad."
Normally under difficult circumstances, he would've lectured her for the dangerous and infantile behavior she had displayed but not this time.
"Come on," Cedric signed, taking her in his arms. "Let's get you cleaned up. We'll discuss this issue more in the morning."
Sofia nodded, snuggling up to his shoulder as Cedric patted her head and took her to the bathroom to wipe off her face.
Perhaps she was missing something in his life without him realizing it.
